Sanitary can-closing machine



May s, 1923-- 1,454,375

DENNISON SANITARY CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1919 .6 Sheets-Sheet.l

1 w Jim MIIIVVENTOR.

L. DENNISON SANITARY CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1919 e Sheets-Shet 2 M ,ZWINVENTOR May 8, 1923- L. DENNISON SANITARY CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1919 GSh-eets-Sheet 4 mm \J wwww INVENTOR.

May 8, "1923 L. DENNISON SANITARY CAN CLOjSING MACHINE Filed June '7 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 V W I May 8, 1923- I 1,454,375

L. DENNISON I SANITARY CAN QLOSING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1919 GSheets-Sheet e 515575695" [my em zw:

% I/Z/PQM777C6 2 272221907? Patented May 8, i923.

LAWRENCE DENNISOFI, OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOF TO GENERAL CAN COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SANITARY CAN--GLOSING Ifi/IAOHINE.

Application filed June 7,

T all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, LAWRENCE DnNNlsoN, a citizen of the United States, resioing at llrookfield, in the county of Cook, in the tate of Illinois, have invented a new Sanitary Can-Closing rlachine.

My invention relates to improvements in can closing machines of the type in which the can and cover are held stationary while the seaming rollers rotate about them during the seaming operation.

One object of the present invention is to provide means wherebya quick adjustment of the machine may be made by an unskilled person to adapt the machine for cans of any size within its capacity. Anotherobject is to provide an improved machine of this character by means of which spilling of the liquid contents of the can is prevented. Another object is to provide means for so holding the can as to ensure a circular cross section thereof. while the cover is being-attached. An additional object is to provide an improved and generally simplified machine of the type described.

In the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention F igurel is a front elevation of the ma: chine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a cam lever and pin for effecting height adjustment; Fig. 5 is a plan view of'the cover magazine adjusted to its minimum size; Fig. Gis a similar view, the

magazine being adjusted to maxnnum size;.;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on the line 77 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a shutter for rounding the cans; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a rotary conveyor; Fig. 10 is a half elevation and half section (on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9) of said rotary. conveyor; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the seaming. head; Fig. 12 is an elevation of said seaming head; Fig. 13 is a view of one of the dowel pins; Fig. 14: is a vertical section on the line 1414 of Fig. 3 with certain parts omitted; Fig. 15 is an elevation of said seaming head; Fig. 16 is an. elevation of the cover-releasing mechanism; Fig. 1. .is a central section through the machine with cer tain pivoted levers and a shutter omitted; and Fig. 18 is a similar section at right angles thereto with parts in elevation.

The machine comprises a suitable base, or

the gear 9, shaft 10, pinion 11, gear 12, shaft 13, gear 14, and shaft 15. The vertical shaft 10 drives the spiral gears 16, 17, the latter being mounted on a shaft 18 and driving the belt pulley 19 and belt 20 which is supported also by thepulley 21, this belt constituting the feeding mechanism for advancing the cans to the point where the cover is applied thereto.

specific disclosure thereof forming no part of applicants invention. The vertical shaft 13 is provided at its upper end with cam mechanism for raising and lowering the can to press .the top of the same against the seaming mechanism. It is also provided with Geneva stop mechanism for intermittently rotating the star wheel which feeds the cans one at a time to the seaming mechanism. The vertical shaft 15 is provided with cam mechanism at its upper end for moving the seaming rollers radially inward and for operating the ejector hereinafter described. v

The can covers are stacked in the magazine which will now be described. It consists of a base plate, 22 on which are mama ed a plurality of pins 23, each pin has pivotally mounted thereon an arm 24, each arm carrying a vertical rod 25. Said rods may' thus be swung about the axesofthe pins 23 and may be moved toward or away from eachother to accommodate c0vers26 of different diameters. In order to move. saidrods simultaneously, a ring 2? .is provided having a plurality of radial slots 28 therein (Figs. 5 and 6) each of which receives a pin 29 prov The gearing is shown for illustrative purposes only, the

jecting downwardly from one of the arms 2a. The rotation of the ring therefore moves said rods 25 toward and away from each other. The said ring 1s provided with a plu rality of openings30 through any one of v which a. pin 31 may be inserted to register. with a single opening in the base 22, thereby locking said ring in any oneof a number of predeterminedpositions. As previously stated, the cans are fed to the machine by the belt 20, the forward movement being arrested by a star wheel 32 which turns about the shaft 15. This star wheel is made in three sections 33, 35, 35, which are relatively adjustable and may be locked in any desired position by means of the tapering pin 36, which passes through any one of a plurality of holes in each of said plates. As will be seen from Fig. 9; the upper section, or plate, has a plurality of radial extensions. one side of each of which has an arc-sha ied recess 37, the lower plate having similar arc-shaped recesses 89 on the opposite side of saidprojection; the intermediate plate 3 ih s a plurality or" eccentrically curved surit'aces L0 which limit the inward radial movement oi the can. Adjustment of these three plates isetfected by relative rotation thereof, thereby forming recesses acnpted to re ceive cans oi CllilQlQ-llt diameters andprovic e a three-point contact therewith. With this arrangement, cans of all standard sizes are not only held. securely, but it is not necessary to replace the star wheel whenever a can of different size is to be operated on. The said star wheel turns with a sleeve on the shaft 15, said sleeve being rotated by a Geneva stop mechanism, comprising a driven wheel is and a driving wheel L3, the latter turning with the shaft 18. This arrangement p o vides for intermittent rotation of the star wheel, thereby sweeping the cans a circularpath one at a time from the belt to the seaming rollers. Prior to this movement the cover is appliec to the can in the following manner:

The plate 22 has an opening therein large enough to accommodate the largest cover, the stack of covers resting on a pair of arc-shaped rails 4-5. As the star wheel rotates a pivo ed lever l6, of which there are six carried by said star wheel, is so arranged that its outer end rides upwardly on the rail 4L7, causing it to strike the lowermost cover and slide it along the rails to a point over the belt which feeds the cans to the star wheel. lit the end of this movement said cover has slid on to and is support d by a pair of hooks 4:8 pivoted at a J 49 and arranged to have their lower t order to drop the cover on to the c. A b neath, said movement being caused by a yoke 50 which lowered by the rod, 5i thereby causing the pins to slide iu'tlie inclined slots 53 and move the upper ends of said levers toward each other. The rod (ii is lowered intermittently by a lever uich turns with a shaft having a second lev r theimr the latter being oclced by a rotatable cam cam turning with the shaft 15. is provided at its lower end with a plate formi a plunger which presses the cover into the top of? the can and is thereafter elevated slightly to nae i375 relieve the pressure but not enough to permit the cover to spring out ofthe can, or loosen sulliciently to enable the can to spill its contents as it is being moved to one side by the star wheel. During such movement, the cover is further held in place by a stationa y plate 59, until the can has been moved through approximately 60 to the spinning rollers 60, 61.

As soon as the can reaches the seaming rollers, it is pressed upwardly and is automatically centred by the device shown in Fig. 8. This mechanism consists of a stationary ring 70, which ring carries a series or pivoted plates 71 which -may be made to swing inwardly to form substantially a circular opening or variable diameter. Said individual plates are -moved by a lowerring 72 provided with slots 72 and with an arm 725, the latter being rocked by a cam roller 74: carried by a rotatinghub 75 which turns with the shaft 15. Each plate 71 is pivoted about a pin 71 secured to the upper ring '20 and each has a pin 71 projecting downwardly into one of the slots 72". The plate 72 is normally held in such position by the spring 76 as to make the opening as lar 'e as possible under-a given adjustment. This position is determined when the pins 71" reach the outer end or the slots 72. hen the arm 73 is moved in oppositionof the action 01 the spring by the roller 74;, the minimum diameter of the opening is positively determined by movement of said arm and by the prior adjustment of the upper late with reference to the lower plate. The said plate may be locked in any one of a number of positions of adjustment by means of a pin 77 passing through any one of a number of holes 78 and passing also through an opening in a projection on the stationary supporting housing 79. The function or this centeringdevice is to accurately center the can with reference to the seaming rollers and also ,to force the can to assume a cylindrical form in case the upper end is not accurate in this respect.

The upward movement of the can occurs simultaneously with the centering 'of the de vice and at the conclusion thereof the can ispressed firmly against the cover, the lat ter being forced against a plate, or chuck, 80, and accurately fitting :over the same by virtue of the centering device previously mentioned. (Fig. 14)

While the cover is thus held firmly against he can (both parts being held against rota'tion), the roller 60 rolls the cover flange down over the body flange after which the roller 61 forces both flanges [against the cylindrical body of the can. During this operation the chuck furnishes a solid bacle ing to resist the inwardthrust or the rollers and thereby insures a tight seam.

The seeming roller 60 isrotatably secured Just prior to the seaming operation when.

per end of said stud carrying acurved arm 89, the opposite end of which carries a cam 90. The'camsj and are operated by a cam member having two cam surfaces 91,

92 thereon, the first of which ensures a quick inward movement of the seaming rollers, and the second of which causes the seaming operation. When said cam member is moved upwardly, the cam 85 is first moved outwardly thereby moving the roller 60 inwardly, after which the cam 90 is moved outwardly thereby moving the roller 61} inwardly, The cam 90 has its beveled face in a higher plane than the cam 85. This mechanism insures the proper sequence of operation of the seaming rollers. The arm 89 is niadesufiiciently long to give a certain amount of spring to the roller 61, enabling itto run over the side seam of the can. The cam member is in the form oi a sleeve (see Fig. 14) and is moved'up and down by a ring 98, the latter being carried by a yoke 94, said yoke being pivoted at 95 and moved up and down by having its outer end engaged by the cam 96 which turns with the shaft 15. j

In order to accommodate cams of different diameter without changing the entire seaming head, the cams 85, 90, may be adjusted by rotating them to permit the tapering pin in each case to be inserted into any one of a plurality of holes therein. The cam 85 is locked by the pin'97 and the cam 90 is locked by a pin 98, shown also in Fig.

the can is being pressed up against the cover, the plate 80, which is mounted on the hollow shaft 101, ispressed upwardly against the action of the spring 102, providing a yielding pressure against the cover. An ejector pin 103 passes through said hollow shaft and is moveddownwardly by the lever 56 at the conclusion of the seamin o eration, thereby insuring the removal of the covered can from the chuck and preventing sticking.

At the conclusion of the seaming operation the star wheel is given another 60 r0 tation, the can being guided along a support 104: with side rails 105, 106, which guide the can out of contact with the star wheel after which the operator lifts the can from the machine. The entire seaming mechanism is adjustable vertically to provide for cans of different heights; said seaming mechanism is carried in a vertically adjust- 108 (see Figs. 3 and 4),a gib 108 being inserted between one or the ways and the head. The vertical adjustment of said head is detern'iined by the pivoted lever 109, the lower end of which is eccentric, having .a

able head 107 which slides in vertical ways plurality of openings 110 t herei n through v which a lockingpinlli may be passed.v The head is then raised rocking said lever to. movesaid eccentric; sald lever is pivoted to "the head 10? by a pin 112, said ,eccentric resting 011 a stationary portion of,

the frame. The headis locked in place by asetscrew1l8f 1 The COVGLIIlflgfLZHlQ is alsoveltically adjustable, being supported bya casting 1% which slides vertically onfways and is adjusted and locked in place by meansi'den--, tical with thatjust described. The device for dropping the can coversone at a time onto the cans is supported bythe lever 54: on the head which supports the seaming mechanism and is adjustable therewith.

While I have described myinve'ntion with I more or less minuteness, and as being embodied in certain precise 'formsyy'et it will be understood that 1 do not desire to limit seaming head, and means completely surrounding said can for holding said can during the seaming operation, said holding means being adjustable to accommodate cans of different diameter. I

2.111 a device of the class described,

.combination a support, a rotatable seaming a head, means for advancing said can to said means external to the can for pressing it to circular outline, and means for, adjusting said first means to accommodate: it to the curvature of cans of different diameter. l

8. A can-closing machine comprising a support, a seaming head, a pair of seaming rollers, an arm for each roller, an adjustable cam memberon each of said arms, and a pair of cam'surfaces which maybe en gaged directly by different parts of the cam surface of said adjustable cam members for I moving said rollers to operating position.

4.1n'a device of the. class described, a

seaming head comprising a gear, a pair of integral arms pivotally mounted thereon,

each arm carrying aroller andan adjust-' able member, and a pair of cam surfaces for operating the said adjustable members tomove said rollers inward ina predetermined sequence, one of said arms being yielding to permit the roller to ride over the side seam of the can. g

5. In a machine of the class described, an ad ustable cover magazine comprising, a

supporting plate, a plurality of vertical rods, pivotal supports for each rod whereby they may be swung to vary the distance between them, and means for ad usting said rods to any one oi a series of definite posiween them, and a single means for simultaneously looking all of said rods in different positions of adjustment.

7. A can-closing machine comprising a supporting frame, a seaming head vertically slida-ble thereon, a magazine also vertically sli able thereon, an eccentric member associated With each of said heads and movable to determine the position thereof, and means for locking said eccentric member in position.

8, in device 01" the class described, a si'zpporting frame, a seaming head slidably mounted thereon, a pivoted cam for adjusting); said seaming head, said cam having a plurality of openings therein at predetermined distances corresponding to definite adjustments or" said head, and a locking pin for lockin said head in any position of adjustment.

9. In a device of the class described, a

seaming head, a rotatable conveyor, a cover magazine associated therewith, and a plurality of radially arranged arms pivoted to said conveyor for removing the loivest cover from said magazine and transferring the same to said seaming head.

10. A can-closing machine comprising, in combination, a seaming head, a rotatable conveyor for advancing the cans to said seaming head, a magazine for supplying coversio said cans, said seaming head, conveyor'andmagazine being adjustable to any one of a series of lived positions to accommodate cans of different diameters.

11. A can-closing machine comprising, in combination, a seaming head, a rotatable conveyor for advancing the cans to said seaming head, a magazine for supplying covers to said cans, said seaming-head, conveyor and magazine being adjustable to any one of a series'of fixed positions to accommodate cans of different diameters.

In a device of the class described, a rotatable conveyor, ,a cover magazine adjacent thereto, a member pivotally mounted on said conveyor, and an inclined support f-IPCl by said pivoted member to raise me as it passes said magazine to thereby engage the lowermost cover and remove it tron'i said magazine.

LAWRENCE DENNISON. 

